By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org
It has been an interesting week for the Gerald R. Ford International Airport. First the airport announced it would be expanding its rapid COVID program and then announced it received an award for its terminal apron reconstruction and expansion project.
Rapid COVID Testing
Since opening the testing site in December, TACKL Health, which is partnering with the Ford Airport, has administered more than 4,500 tests. This spurred the the airport to expand the partnership with TACKL to offer rapid molecular PCR tests. This makes the airport one of the first airports in the nation to do so.
The drive-up, no-appointment-needed site has added a rapid PCR option that provides results in 30 minutes, down from its offering of 24-72 hours. PCR tests are widely recognized as more accurate than rapid antigen tests and are now required by many countries before international travel.
The testing site is open daily from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. Those wishing to be tested do not need to have COVID-19 symptoms or a doctor’s referral. TACKL Health currently does not accept insurance with participants required to pay out-of-pocket for services.
“As travel demand continues to grow, some destinations, especially international, increasingly require a PCR test before entering,” said Stephen Clark, director of commercial development for the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority. “Since we opened this site in mid-December, we have had overwhelming demand, with some guests traveling from Chicago, Marquette and Detroit for the peace of mind a test can bring.”
The rapid PCR test costs $275 per person. Ford Airport anticipates this test should work for most domestic and international destinations, but guests should consult their carrier or destination to ensure they receive the proper test before departing.
In addition to its rapid antigen test, TACKL Health also is offering a new rapid antibody test that checks for both IgM and IgG antibodies. This test is administered through a finger prick and should have results available within 20 minutes. The test will cost $65 as a standalone service or $45 with the purchase of another service.
Testing is set up in the Airport’s economy lot and is on a first-come, first-served basis. When guests arrive, they will need to fill out an intake form using a QR code. If they are unable to access the form or need assistance, a technician will be available at the testing site.
For more information on the testing site, visit tacklhealth.com/grr or call 616-816-1280.
Airport receives 2021 Engineering Merit Award
The Gerald R. Ford International Airport’s terminal apron reconstruction and expansion project has received the American Council of Engineering Companies’ 2021 Engineering Merit Award.
The project — done in collaboration with Livonia-based engineering, architecture and construction firm C&S Companies — was selected for this honor among 32 entries. The recognition is part of the American Council of Engineering Companies, or ACEC, Engineering and Surveying Excellence Awards competition.
The ACEC annually recognizes outstanding engineering and surveying firms for Michigan projects that demonstrate an exceptional degree of innovation, complexity and value. Criteria for the 2021 awards specifically focused on uniqueness and originality, social and economic value, technical innovation and generating excitement for the engineering profession.
The Ford Airport received the award on Feb. 26 during the ACEC’s virtual 54th Engineering Excellence Awards Gala.
C&S Companies led design and construction oversight of the $50 million program, which began in 2018 and included the replacement or expansion of 215,000 square yards of the terminal area where aircraft are parked, unloaded or loaded, de-iced and refueled. The project, completed in September with minimal impact to the guest experience, allows for more adequate apron space for air carriers. Most significantly, it paved the way for Project Elevate.
A three-development expansion, Project Elevate includes a $90 million extension of Concourse A to accommodate projected passenger growth over the next 20 years as well as the construction of a Federal Inspection Station and air traffic control tower relocation.
